We all have stress sometimes. For some people, it happens before having to speak in public. For other people, it might be before a first date. What causes stress for you may not be stressful for someone else.


Sometimes stress is helpful – it can encourage you to meet a deadline or get things done. However, long-term stress can increase the risk of diseases like depression, heart disease and a variety of other problems. A stress-related illness called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after an event like war, physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster.

If you have chronic stress, the best way to deal with it is to take care of the underlying problem. .

Below is a non-exhaustive list of common stressors in people's lives:

	Pain Bright light Elevated sound levels Events: births, deaths, reunions, weddings, divorce, moving, chronic illness, loss of role, identity, meaning. Responsibilities: Unpaid bills, lack of money Work/study: exams, rush hour traffic, project deadlines, Personal relationships: conflict, deception, bullying Lifestyle: poor eating habits, tobacco smoking, heavy drinking, insufficient sleep Exposure to stress early on in life can permanently enhance the stress response (ie: abused children) Age